Is Barry Sanders the greatest RB of all time?

Is Barry Sanders Top Five ever?! Without a doubt. Truly a rare breed of speed, agility, ball carrier vision and most of all, his elusive abilities.


Is the the GOAT among Running Backs?! No. Jim Brown would be. If not him?! Walter Payton.

 

No. He was great, but lost too many yards in the back field for me. Running the ball isn't always about the big play. Sometimes, hell a lot of times is about being able to force your will on someone, and a 2 yard loss, a two yard loss , punt, and then a no gain, but then a 70 yard td isn't doing that. Give me the 4 yards , four yards , 3 yards , and then a 20 yard guy any day.
I can think of many RBs right of the top of my head that I watched play that I would take over him. The Bus, TD, E. Smith, Franco, Petterson ,and one of my favorites Marshall Faulk.

 

Yes!

 

The greatest? He's right up there along with Jim Brown, Payton, Tomlinson and, though he didn't play long, Gale Sayers. Grudging acknowledgement to Emmitt Smith

 

There is so many RBs worthy, I'll take Sweetness everyday and on Sunday!

 

No one compared to Jim Brown. There aren't too many of us left that watched him play.

 

Ruined his career by going to the Jets

 

And if you put some of those other great RBs in the Jim Brown era they could do the same thing.

 

He was so stupid in his contract negociation!

 

yep

 

Funny when someone leaves on such a sour note, how we forget how great they were (at times). That was a fun compilation. AB's would be too. Same with Barry Foster.

 

I was going with Jim Brown also. Actually it is impossible to compare. Different era's.

I saw Brown destroy the Steelers. First game I went to as a young boy they just kept handing him the ball. (I think it was first Steeler game I saw, no one around to ask anymore) I think he got to around 150 yards that game and a lot of TD's. I know I was supposed to root against him but as a youngster I was thrilled to watch him. Can't recall score but they whipped our ass. My friends dad took us and I was reminded to stop cheering when he scored.

And I liked him in some of his movies, The Dirty Dozen and Ice Station Zero were a couple favorites. Some years back he had a documentary called The Black Godfather. It was pretty good if you had interest in his life story. I think it was on Netflix. Funny, if it was today, I'd hate the guy for hurting the Steelers. As a youngster I liked football players regardless if they were a Steeler or beat up the Steelers. Hell, I probably would have liked Brady back then.

 

Reminds me of James Harrison. A lot of Steeler fans don't like him but as for me that 100 yard run back in SB XL111 made him a favorite.

 

and then he told L Bell to fake injury and get paid by the Steelers
DICK

 

He is really not in the conversation of these great RB's. He ruined his career.

 

Sanders definitely top 5 with nobody else around him on a budget team.

Other greats not mentioned above *Marcus Allen & Earl Campbell.

 

I think Earl was the best big back in my life time.

 

What could have been.......

Lev Bell was one of the greatest running backs I personally have ever watched. Had he not thrown it all away he would be in the conversation for greatest of all time. Now he's nothing more than a forgotten footnote in Steelers history.

 

Longevity for a big back was Bettis hands down. I know Earl was considered big back in the day, but Bettis was truly a big back with scat back footwork.

Not too many walking out there at his playing weight and doing what he did for as long as he did it.

 

I loved the Bus, I was just commenting on the posters reference to EC an Marcus Allen. As I said in my original post
there are too many worthy RB's.

 

Eric Dickerson was another back that was tremendous for a few years. I think he still holds the season rushing record.

 

I don't think you should be able to say a RB is great , or not if You actually never watched them play outside of highlight videos.
It's why I never talk about J. Brown. I've seen highlights, My Father, Grandfather, and Uncles have said how great he was, but since I've never actually watched him play in real time, I don't have an opinion of him.

 

Leveon was really a special player.

I actually put Barry at #1. Personal preference.

I'm still sour at Bell for being an idiot. Imo he should have taken the Steelers offer. Would have made bank in endorsements to make up the difference as hometown hero.

Could have gone down in history as one of the greatest.

 

Funny thing is there was no difference to make up. He missed a year on the tag that would have paid him more than the APY on his Jets contract. He wanted more guaranteed and only 35 of the Jets contract was, but it wasn't fully. Steelers offered him more overall than what he ultimately got with the Jets. It's reported that he made about $28 after leaving the Steelers.
So take the Tag value he lost away and loss of the sponsorships, he's a big "F" grade on this one.